Posted on 05/14/2004 3:43:32 AM PDT by calcowgirl
Prometheus Methods Tower Services Inc., the business that cost Nick Berg his life in Iraq, has no records with the Pennsylvania Department of State.
The company that specialized in building communications towers never registered with the Pennsylvania Corporation Bureau, said Brian McDonald, spokesman for the state department.
McDonald conducted a search of the bureau’s online list of registered businesses, but found no matches.
The same search done by a Daily Local News reporter produced the same results -- several businesses contained the word "Prometheus" in their names. Only one is located in West Chester, and it is not related to Berg’s business.
Companies are not legally required to register with the state, but McDonald explained it is usually the first step an owner takes.
"You’d be very foolish not to register your business with the department," he said. "It is nearly impossible to exist without doing it."
Registering allows an owner to set up his business’s tax structure. It also establishes how the business is run, for example, whether or not it is for-profit or nonprofit.
"It is basically the infrastructure by which businesses are set up in the commonwealth," McDonald said.
McDonald added it is possible the business could be listed in the bureau’s records under a different name.
Searching the statewide yellow pages online found two company names containing the word "Prometheus" in Philadelphia. One is an Internet consulting business.
An employee at the second one, which is called Prometheus Radio Project, said it was not affiliated with the business owned by the local man slain in Iraq by members of al-Qaida.
Officials at the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue and the Internal Revenue Service said state and federal laws prohibited their agencies from providing any records they had of Prometheus Methods Tower Services -- even whether the company had ever filed a return.
"Any information that we get or is contained on a tax return I can’t release," said Steve Kniley, press secretary for the state revenue department. "It is considered confidential under tax law."
Tax records become public information only if a lien is filed against a business. According to Kniley, there are no liens against Berg’s company.
Bill Cressman, spokesman at the IRS’s Philadelphia office, said the only companies with public tax records are nonprofit corporations.
At least one person claims he can confirm Prometheus’ existence.
Jay Shur, who works at the radio station WCHE 1520 AM in West Chester, said on Wednesday he was in the process of hiring Berg to build a communications tower for the station when news of his death came out.
The station was awaiting approval of plans from both the borough and an environmental agency before construction could begin, according to Shur.
"There’s a lot of paperwork to go through, and the area we were looking at was a marsh- land so we had to get clearance," he said."When I do get the OK, I’ll have to look for another contractor."
Michael Berg briefly spoke about Prometheus during a press conference Thursday morning outside his home.
"My son was not over there to make money," Michael Berg said. "My son’s business, which was very profitable before he went to Iraq ..I will make good on anything the company owes anybody, but it’s pretty much going to be defunct."
It is unclear how many employees Prometheus had. Michael Berg spoke of a "foreman" during the press conference. However, Nick Berg traveled to Iraq alone.
Staff Writer Jill Nawrocki contributed to this article.
I can't wait to find out about the "company"....it's either TRUE or NOT - so let's hope the media reports whatever comes out.
I also find it odd that such a liberal father would have a son that supports BUSH and would go off to Iraq with no problems from the dad.
Both of these creatures are OXYGEN THIEVES!
Don't miss BOORTZ today.
The key to this mystery is somewhere in those two paragraphs you just posted.
Admittedly, I have read very little about this case, on purpose, because it sickens me so; therefore, I am asking the following question. How was it decided he had no link to Zacharias Moussaui? Was this explained? As is, I don’t want to take their word for it just because they said he didn’t. Things are getting too strange, and less and less is making sense of their story. Do you have any thoughs on this?
Thank you.
Looks like he was working on a presentation to show the guys back home what the conditions were over there.(as in communication tower destruction)That probably had alot to do with why he was seen using his laptop very often.
Anybody familiar with Prometheus Methods Tower Service ( owner, Nick Berg) out of the Phila. PA area? I have their packet, it looks good, but would like more info. Thanks Edwin Bukont Comm-Struction and Services a div. of Total Engine Service & Supply Co. Main 410-879-5567 Cellular 240-417-2475 eFax 240-368-1265 email ebukont@msn.com or edb106@hotmail.com Mobile Message 2404172475@messaging.nextel.com
"Prometheus Methods Tower Service"--what, do they hang from the top of the tower and throw flaming torches at the ground? And didn't Prometheus get up getting punished by the Gods for helping us mortals? I sure wouldn't want to be up on a tower working for an outfit with that name with an electrical storm aprroaching--LOL. Sorry, but I couldn't resist. Mike Patton Michael Patton & Assoc. mike@michaelpatton.com "The Best Studios & Transmitter Sites in the Business"
All of the articles about Berg and his like to Moussaoui recently from a variety of sources quote government sources as saying Berg gave his password to someone who THEN gave the password to Moussaoui....no evidence Berg and Moussaoui actually met.
The idea that Berg and Moussaoui met directly came from an early Fox story, and Fox being Fox, it's likely Fox botched the story.
Lots of interesting speculation throughout this thread
Any West Chester Freepers out there? The address listed Is 1264 Estate Dr, West Chester, PA. Was he working out of his house? Was he still living with his parents? I can't imagine a rebuilding Iraqi telecommunications contract being given to a one man band working out of his parents basement.
Thanks fer the ping. Something surely stinketh about this whole thing.
Alright, who is writing this script?
I'll be listening...
I just used my non-public search engines. I found nothing in the US.
It's very possible that it wasn't incorporated anywhere, which is no doubt why the Bergs had a little trouble getting contracts in Iraq. In fact, because of the insurance and bonding requirements normally involved in any kind of construction or maintenance business, I'm surprised they got any contracts at all. A non-existent firm, after all, couldn't be bonded, and thus probably wouldn't be eligible for consideration for anything more than putting up a TV dish for a homeowner. In fact, not even that - I never hire uninsured people or companies to do work around my home.
Checking for insurance might be another way of finding out if this company really existed.
Berg stubbornly refused American offers of assistance in getting home - including an offer of free airfare, cash and an American escort. He told authorities before his April 6 release that he was eager to get back to work seeking contracts in Iraq, telling U.S. authorities "he was losing thousands of dollars in jail."
Hercules did free Prometheus from his chains (and the liver loving vulture) as Hercules was in the midst of his 12 Labors. So Prometheus had a happy ending after all.
This begs another question. I wonder why anybody would give their password to someone? Berg is described as naive. But he made too many "naive" mistakes. There is a pattern.
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